OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Providence, RI 02909

Providence: median income $64,649, home value $325,300, $250/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60609 89%833$58,896$268,300$213 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Lawrence, MA 01841 88%63$56,971$403,400$305 pricier homes ($78K more)
Chicago, IL 60608 88%834$73,366$358,600$300 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Worcester, MA 01603 87%36$66,049$331,300$257 smaller
Lynn, MA 01902 87%52$67,046$478,000$348 pricier homes ($153K more)
New Bedford, MA 02740 87%29$55,237$345,800$259 older residents
Fall River, MA 02720 86%17$62,196$398,000$253 pricier homes ($73K more) · older residents
New Bedford, MA 02744 86%31$58,675$372,700$317 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Fall River, MA 02724 83%17$55,590$402,800$256 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · older residents
Bridgeport, CT 06605 83%102$56,179$335,500$277 smaller · newer homes
Passaic, NJ 07055 83%154$55,371$429,900$337 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · more renters
Lawrence, MA 01843 82%62$67,585$429,100$334 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02721 81%17$52,841$406,000$228 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · older residents
Lowell, MA 01850 80%58$69,780$390,800$313 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
New London, CT 06320 80%47$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Paterson, NJ 07504 80%153$76,659$381,600$294 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Norristown, PA 19401 80%234$69,908$234,000$201 cheaper homes ($91K less) · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02723 79%18$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents
Plainfield, NJ 07060 79%175$78,602$393,800$348 pricier homes ($69K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Paterson, NJ 07514 79%153$70,205$342,900$302 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60639 79%838$61,089$309,900$241 larger · 9 min longer commute
Hartford, CT 06114 78%64$52,110$232,800$158 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Bridgeport, CT 06604 78%101$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07202 78%165$71,250$432,100$318 pricier homes ($107K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60659 78%836$68,704$371,800$230 pricier homes ($47K more)

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.